Monday, May 21, 2012

They ride to raise awareness. They ride to heal. And most
importantly, they ride for those who can’t.

One of the most moving days of the year for us at OOIDA
happens in May. As Memorial Day approaches, we await the day – a Monday in this
case – that hundreds of motorcycles will roll past as they make their annual Run
For The Wall to Washington, DC.

And although we are familiar with how the day will go and
what to expect as we line the hillside to greet them, seeing the riders and
hearing the roar of the motorcycles still has the power to overwhelm.

No matter how prepared we are, and no matter how many years
we’ve seen those stoic riders glide past on their way to the Vietnam Veterans
Memorial Wall, we get caught up in the moment and feelings of pride for this
country and those who serve it.

With each rider that passes, with each wave, and with each
honk of a horn, we connect. We feel. For those brief, powerful moments, we are
with them.

Bright, sunny day or not, the sunglasses come in handy when
Run For The Wall roars past.

There’s always at least 400 riders at this stage of the
Central Route. By the time they pick up their full contingency, and meet up
with the Southern Route, they will be thousands strong. And by the time their
wheels turn for Rolling Thunder next Monday, there will be hundreds of
thousands.

Many truckers, OOIDA members and staff have military
backgrounds. And we are proud to know people who participate in Run For The
Wall.

OOIDA staffer Rena Meyer and her husband Daveprepare for their first Run For The Wall experience.They’ll end up in DC on Memorial Day.

OOIDA medical benefits administrative assistant Rena Meyer
and her husband, Dave, are on the journey for the first time. Last Friday, they
loaded up their rides to join up with Run For The Wall at an official stop in
Kansas. Dave is 20-year Army. He told us they are riding for all fallen heroes.

For the participants, the missions are personal. They know
why they ride.

And even if we’re not riding, even if we’re the ones waving from the hillside, we will do our part to help carry the torch.

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